I did as I was asked, although I still wasn’t comfortable. I mean, dinner was great and all...but playing strip poker while eating? That freaked me out.

"Tell me why we’re doing this again, Lisa?" I asked.

She smiled. "One of my work colleagues suggested it. She does it now and again with her husband. Keeps the marriage fresh, she said."

"I suppose that’s all right…let’s get this over with, then," I said.

Lisa dealt the cards, and I was begging for a good hand so I didn’t have to strip. And anyway, I thought, isn’t that my wife’s job?

"Stop trying to picture me naked, Jerry, and have a look at your damn cards."

I looked at my damn cards. An Ace and a Seven. I looked at Lisa. There was no emotion. I looked at the cards face up on the table. A Three and another Ace. I forced myself not to grin and just played the game, calling, bluffing, and sometimes raising when the time came. Then came the worst bit.

I did as I was told, albeit rather reluctantly. I looked around the kitchen, embarrassed. Then came the second round, and the third, and so on. It went like that for at least half an hour. Now Lisa was topless but still with jeans intact, and I only had my underwear left, not including socks.

And I had just lost again.

"Ah, how the mighty have fallen!" Lisa cried, banging her hand on the table.

I took off my boxers.

She raised an eyebrow. "Forgive me. How the mighty have risen." She laughed.

I did not. "It's cold, and you're, well...not exactly fully clothed. I can't help it." And so I stood there, naked as the night sky and just as cold. When I went to cover it with my hands, Lisa tutted.

"Don’t try and wangle your way out of it," she said. "Naked is naked. In fact, stay standing. It’s more amusing for me that way." She shuffled the cards and dealt.

But I wasn’t done with her. "Honey, I need to say something."

"Sure, what is it?" She wasn’t even glancing in my direction.

"Honey."

"Yes," she said, still not looking.
"Ho-ney," I said through gritted teeth. "Look at me…no, no, not there. Look at my face." I ignored her smirk and got straight to the point. "The thing is, Lisa, I’m enjoying the night. I really am, despite the game being a little weird. And if you say that it’ll help our marriage then I believe you. It’s just…" I turned red.

Lisa leaned forwards on the table. "Jerry, what’s wrong?"

I hesitated and looked around.

"I mean, did you really have to invite the Wilsons to dinner tonight?"